title: Lingual arch bar application for treatment of rostral mandibular body fractures in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a lingual arch bar technique for fixation of rostral mandibular body fractures and report outcome in 16 cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats (n=16) with rostral mandibular body fracture (10 bilateral, 6 unilateral) just caudal to the canine teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orthodontic wire (Dentaurum® ; 0.9 mm) was used as a lingual arch bar by contouring it to the shape of the lingual side of the alveolar margin, and secured by circum-mandibular wires passed interproximal to teeth. Stability of fixation, occlusion, tolerance to the lingual arch bar, degree of secondary gingivitis/periodontitis, and ability to eat were evaluated clinically, and fracture union was assessed radiographically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lingual arch bar was well tolerated. Eleven cats without a feeding tube were able to eat within 24 hours. Time to fracture union and appliance removal ranged from 28 to 64 days (mean, 42.5 days). Malocclusion of the rostral part of the fracture occurred in 5 cats; however only 1 required correction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoral stabilization of rostral mandibular fractures using a lingual arch bar is a simple and effective method for the treatment of rostral mandibular fractures just caudal to the canine teeth.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Surgical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. malperc@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mehmet Alper
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cetinkaya
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yardimci
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000601:surgery*; D016267:External Fixators / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*